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micronut
Trad climber
fresno, ca
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Topic Author's Original Post - Apr 7, 2010 - 02:13pm PT
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We're not too wound up yet, but my buddies were due out a couple days ago from a Trans-Sierra trip (East to West). We're sure they got hammered up there with the past week of storms and instability and are probably just hunkered down, but folks are starting to get concerned. By last night there was still no word so my understanding is that SAR was sent out this morning in some fashion. They are supposed to come out near Lodgepole, doing the High Route. Mike's done Denali and Ryan Aconcagua.....they both have avy education and a lifetime of alpine skill in the mountains.... they are super strong fellas. Just hope they get home soon. Anybody here on Southern Sierra SAR in that region?
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Ghost
climber
A long way from where I started
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Here's hoping they're just up there in a snow cave building up material for a great story...
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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Good luck gentlemen.
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WBraun
climber
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Couple of days ago the Sierra storms dumped tons of heavy snow in the high country as you already know.
Makes traveling very slow as you already know.
Since you already know all this sh'it all you can do is worry as we already know.
Best wishes for a safe return to your good friends ...
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micronut
Trad climber
fresno, ca
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Topic Author's Reply - Apr 7, 2010 - 02:53pm PT
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Thanks Werner and Apogee, I literally just got a call.....the chopper just found em. They're in the process of gettin' em out. Super good news!
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Fletcher
Trad climber
Just me and three kids
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Great news! Now that is something worth celebrating! Glad all is well!
Eric
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apogee
climber
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That is good news.
Be sure to report back with what happened...curious minds want to know.
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Gene
Social climber
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Great news.
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, Ca.
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Excellent news.
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snaps10
Mountain climber
Visalia, CA
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I'm on Sequoia Mountain Rescue we're just waiting with skis in hand.
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John Moosie
climber
Beautiful California
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good news, but we eventually want a trip report.
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snaps10
Mountain climber
Visalia, CA
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NM. Glad to hear they're found.
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cleo
Social climber
Berkeley, CA
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Oh, good...
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seth kovar
climber
Bay Area
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Awesome, good news!!!!!!
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Jingy
Social climber
Nowhere
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let us know what happened when the news comes in...
Good News...
Cheers
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zeta
Trad climber
Berkeley
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great to hear great news...tell us what happened too!
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JEleazarian
Trad climber
Fresno CA
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My wife called and left a message that they were all right, but I was in a meeting until just now. Great news!
John
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Is the third buddy a girl by any chance? A friend of mine told me she had planned to do that route. Cheers.
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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All together now:
Post some photos!
Post some photos!
Post some photos!
Post some photos!
Post some photos!
Post some photos!
Post some photos!
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Seamstress
Trad climber
Yacolt, WA
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For future reference, the sheriff owns search and rescue...at least in my neck of the woods even on USFS lands....They have access to all the SAR resources in a region, who is qualified to do what work, getting helicpoters, ......
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micronut
Trad climber
fresno, ca
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Topic Author's Reply - Apr 7, 2010 - 04:14pm PT
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The latest word is that they are coming out on the bird. They were pretty deep and pretty hungry. Musta been ugly out there. Like I said, these are pretty hard guys. I'll share what I learn only after I talk to them personally. Thanks for the well wishes.
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micronut
Trad climber
fresno, ca
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Topic Author's Reply - Apr 7, 2010 - 04:16pm PT
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No Pete, three guys.
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Gene
Social climber
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Micronut,
I trust you have word that they are in good condition with no injuries?
Props to the folks who found them and those on stand by.
g
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Edge
Trad climber
New Durham, NH
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It is always great to hear a story like this end for the best. I hope they will be left with nothing more permanent than memories.
Props to all who were involved in the rescue, as well as those who were only able to send prayers and well wishes.
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corniss chopper
Mountain climber
san jose, ca
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Hope they were still making an effort to complete the route even in
hopeless snow conditions. 1/2mph still gets it done, although slowly.
The place names of the Sierra high route hold a lot of magic for
those who've ski'd it.
Tableland
Fin Pass (arguing who's going over 1st)( I went 1st last year dickweed!)
Deadman Canyon
Cloud Canyon
Lion Lake pass (not)
Triple Divide pass
Milestone Pass
Kern headwaters
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Thanks for the info. Glad they're ok. Hope they have a fun time flying out.
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micronut
Trad climber
fresno, ca
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Topic Author's Reply - Apr 7, 2010 - 04:31pm PT
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For sure. These guys would have done all they absolutely could not to call in the cavalry. They had no contact methods, concerned friends, alpinists all, made the call to send somebody in. They are not lightweights and they have a big respect for going hard and self reliant. Like I said, I'll wait till I talk to them personally before sharing much.
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
sorry, just posting out loud.
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sorry to hear they couldn't finish their trip, but good to hear they are alive and kicking.
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corniss chopper
Mountain climber
san jose, ca
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todays sat image. Good clear weather for SAR.
3 guys skiing would be leaving a very deep track behind them.
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L
climber
Training for the Blue Tape Route on Half Dome
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So happy to hear they're OK...for a change.
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kelly slater
climber
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did they take the chopper out just to get awesome views of the sierras or are they not really that hard?
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snaps10
Mountain climber
Visalia, CA
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Seamstress,
Sheriff doesn't own SAR in a National Park.
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Seamstress
Trad climber
Yacolt, WA
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Good to know - in OR & WA, sheriff is the IC and has authority even on USFS lands - Hood, Adams, St. Helens, anything in Deschuttes, Gifford. Don't know the NP regs. All missions get assigned numbers out of the state office. Office of Emergency Preparedness and Homeland Security maintain lists of resources (SAR teams, MRA teams, dogs, horses, helicopters, swift water, ...)and their capability....
Always like to see the guys that can get in the resources notified early cause they have a rigamarole to go through to line-up the resources. As one who receives call-outs, time passes from when an overdue is reported to when the IC determines a response is required and sends out the pages. At times, you hear a call is coming and get a jump - even have the SAR/MRA team leader politely consult about a potential call out while we are gulping coffee, checking the backpacks, fueling the rigs.
Generally these incidents don't work like urban 911 calls where someone jumps into a rig seconds after a call that has been automatically routed through dispatch, screening medical/fire/law enforcement.
This may not be the right thread to poke fun about a helicopter ride. I don't know how much new snow you folks have had, but we had over five feet in the last week with two windstorms that got people's attention. The friends and family of these people may be looking at the posts here.
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HighTraverse
Trad climber
Bay Area
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Great news.
But why is the chopper bringing them out?
That doesn't sound so good.
Please keep us posted
In the "storm of the century" we got avalanched just below east side of Shepherd Pass many moons ago. Our camp was destroyed and quite a bit of gear was lost. We were able to retreat on our own.
I've always thought if we'd been over Shepherd Pass when the storm hit we'd have been pinned down by the storm and out of food/fuel needing a rescue by the time it cleared.
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charley
Trad climber
nw pa.
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great news.
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cleo
Social climber
Berkeley, CA
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The news, not much information.
http://www.fresnobee.com/2010/04/07/1888323/three-skiers-rescued-from-high.html#storylink=omni_popular
Ugh... I am supposed to be doing that route soon with a bunch of people, and one of the people in the group was Tom Bennett who passed away on Shasta. Not feeling good at all about it...
But anyway, I'm very glad to hear that they were rescued and are not still missing. I bet they have quite the story. I remember 5 of us tried to ski thru 4' of new snow in the Buttermilks several years ago, and we gave up after about 300 meters and built a snow cave (for play) instead. It must have been ridiculous trying to navigate, make distance, and avoid avalanches up there.
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Footloose
Trad climber
Lake Tahoe
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I'd like to hear if any of them were packing
snowshoes.
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Seamstress
Trad climber
Yacolt, WA
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Snowshoes aren't the answer to all deep snow. I'm pretty light. If the snow is light and bottomless, you sink and tunnel. I remember my first winter ascent of Mt. Washington going up Lion's Head, sinking three feet or more each step. After 8 hours of battling, we gave up and glissading back dow to firm snow in barely 8 minutes. Mountains can make you flounder no matter what tool you use at times.
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jstan
climber
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I got hit with five feet of fresh powder on the Great Range Trail in the Adirondaks once. Bearpaws are essential on a slope. Luckily I ran into three others but it still took us a full day to get out five miles to the Garden.
On a side note. Half the people living in California are wont to rhapsodize on how great Minnesota is.
Mea Culpa!
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HighTraverse
Trad climber
Bay Area
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The 4 feet of snow that fell Sunday night in the area likely played a factor in the skiers being overdue, she said Yup, not to mention the gale force winds.
I'm glad they're all out safely.
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Kurt Ettinger
Trad climber
Martinez, CA
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I carry smaller snowshoes almost always as a backup to the the skis & skins (or Splitboard and skins) mainly for getting up steeper pitches or as an emergency backup mode of transportation. I have found most of the time in fresh snow conditions (Sierra snow that is), I sink more with my little snow shoes than when using ski/skins, splitboard/skins. It would be interesting to find out if they did carry snowshoes (and what other gear in general) for their trip, as weight issues would be of greater consideration for a trip like this vs. a one-day outting.
P.S. Thankfully good news for a change! Glad these guys are ok.
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corniss chopper
Mountain climber
san jose, ca
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Maybe one day we'll have ski's that pop open like some sort of
'george jetson'
gadget into monster snow shoes so the fun can continue on the High Route
after big storms.
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ec
climber
ca
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'knew a couple guys from the LLNL that got caught on the Tioga TS in a mid-80's 11-foot dump. They weathered it out in a TNF Oval Intention. The weight of the snow broke the poles. When it was over, TNF if I can remember, gave 'em a new tent.
 ec
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Scared Silly
Trad climber
UT
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Glad ya friends got found ... here is a little tail.
Years ago a friend and I did a trans Yellowstone ski tour. It was supposed to be a 6 day trip. The cliff notes by days:
Day 1 Left Old faithful with blue bird skies
Day 2 Mid afternoon snow squall, white out, no problem map and compass, hmm compass does not work cause of magnetite. Find a stream follow it down the drainage.
Day 3 Wake up to 24" of snow with more coming down. Managed to ski 2 miles with 1 foot more of snow coming down.
Day 4 Wake to another 24" of snow with more coming down. Skied/wallowed 1/2 mile. Took picture of my friend literally up to his butt in snow with skis on.
Day 5 Wake to another 24" of snow with more coming down. Skied 2 miles without packs to break trail while playing avy poodle. Return to Camp.
Day 6 Storm is breaking - retrace broken trail made the day before - only a 1 foot of new snow overnight. Make 4 or so miles. Should have been out on xmas eve.
Day 7 Clear skies can see the Tetons, starting to make up mileage. But temperatures are dropping to well below zero. Xmas starting rationing food - shared a can of chicken for dinner.
Day 8 Woke up to -50 F temps. Had to thaw my leather boots out before putting them on. But at least it was sunny. Skied 8 miles to a ranger cabin spent the night.
Day 9 Reach the snowmobile road hoping to find a packed path. No luck. Looked at my partner and said "We're Fuked!!!" put head down and starting skiing down the road. Had 9 miles left. About 2 hours later - NPS rangers come in on snow machines looking for us.
Conversion Highlights -
Me - boy are we glad to see ya.
Ranger - Not as happy as we are to see you two.
Me - sorry about the fuss, just a little snow.
Ranger - yeah we recorded over 12 feet in 4 days.
Me - Got a little cold after the storm
Ranger - yeah set a few record lows.
Me - think we could get a ride out we are a little tired of breaking trail.
Ranger - sure you have a 5 miles your truck.
Prologue - NPS put chopper up but we never heard it. We went to West Yellowstone and got really really really drunk.
Mantra for the trip "Are we having fun yet?"
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Footloose
Trad climber
Lake Tahoe
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Yet we STILL mountaineer.
Crazy fukes!
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snaps10
Mountain climber
Visalia, CA
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But why is the chopper bringing them out?
That doesn't sound so good.
Just my assumption, but if they're a couple days late they're going to be running low on food. All the deep powder is going to make moving slow. No sense in risking needing to take the bird up a second time.
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Doug Robinson
Trad climber
Santa Cruz
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Apr 11, 2010 - 03:44pm PT
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Still hoping to hear your story, guys....
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Stevee B
Mountain climber
Oakland, CA
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Apr 12, 2010 - 02:45pm PT
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Can you tell us what happened? We're doing this route starting Thursday.
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Fletcher
Trad climber
Just me and three kids
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Apr 12, 2010 - 03:20pm PT
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I'd love to hear the story too, but Scared Silly's Yellowstone adventure is a good one to hold you over!
Eric
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cleo
Social climber
Berkeley, CA
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Apr 12, 2010 - 03:40pm PT
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Speculation: They started out in good weather with X days worth of food. Somewhere in the middle, the weather got nasty, really nasty, so they holed up to avoid wind, giant piles of snow, and high avalanche danger. They emerged after the storm, very low on food, and had trouble making significant distance due to 12 feet of new snow. When the chopper arrived, they were already out-of-food and still looking at several days of trail-breaking to get out. Yea, I'd take a ride too.
Lesson:
Watch the weather, very carefully, and carry extra food?
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micronut
Trad climber
fresno, ca
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Topic Author's Reply - Apr 12, 2010 - 04:26pm PT
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Ok Yall,
My buddies typed up this trip report as a means of educating us all on how things went down. Here you go. A lot to learn here. We are stoked they kept it together and came out safely. Albeit with a "bit" of help. Sound like they could've made it out on their own but these guys have wives and kids that needed them home in one piece.
Many of you wanted the details of what happened...so here it is...
Preface:
Before I get into the details of what happen this last week on our Trans-Sierra Ski trip, I would like to thank all of those that were concerned for our safety and apologize for the elevated stress on our friends and family, especially our wives, when we did not return home on time. I would also like to preface this trip report for those that don’t know me, that I am an experienced mountaineer, but by no means does that imply that I know everything or have seen everything. I continue to gain knowledge from every trip, article, and course I take. Most everyone knows it’s a never ending learning curve. This is not intended to sound conceited, arrogant, or egotistical. It is merely to add validity to what is about to be said.
Pre-trip:
Our route across the Sierra’s is known as the High Route and leaves from the Sheppard’s pass trail head and ends at the Wolverton parking lot. It is a classic and highly traveled route for skiing across the Sierra’s.
There was a lot of concern with weather leading up to our trip. I had been staying in Mammoth several days before the trip and had the luxury of stopping by the trail head on my return home to help gather information regarding a go or no-go decision. When I arrived at the trail head March 30th, there was no sign of new snow or moisture. The storm that was concerning us most had tracked north as best I could tell and was later confirmed when we got up to higher elevations on our trip. Weather forecasts the night prior to our departure had diminished from a Sunday/Monday (April 4th/5th) chance of snow to just a Monday (40% chance) and our thoughts were they would continue to diminish. We also believed that by that point in the trip we would be in the Tablelands and if it did snow/storm we would be able to still get out on time due to knowing the area from lots of previous ski trips.
Wednesday afternoon we made the decision to go on the trip based on the window of opportunity between the next storms.
Trip:
Day 1 - We left Fresno at 2:45 in the morning and arrived at the trailhead around 7:30. The sun was shining and the sky was blue. We started hiking on dirt and were on our skis within the first couple miles. We traveled a bit slower than we had intended and made it to just below Pothole that evening. Along the way we were able fill our water bottles with running water from the streams, thus saving precious fuel we would later need. We had a great evening!
Day 2 – We woke up to blue skies and cold temperatures. We quickly broke camp and headed toward Sheppard’s pass. By the time we got to Sheppard’s pass the winds had picked up and was gusting pretty strong. There was no sign of new snow from previous storms and there was no wind-loading of snow on the pass, so we went for it. The snow was firm and required crampons. The crux of the pass was the wind. By the time we got toward the top we could barely stand up without getting blown over from the gusting wind. Spindrift felt like a sand blaster on our face and literally at the top of the pass we were almost crawling on the ground so as not to get blown over. I have no idea how strong it actually was, but the rangers when we got back said there were reports of 75 to 100 mph gusts on the crests that day. The rangers had also said that the forecast for the Monday storm and changed while we were out in the field back to a Sunday/Monday storm. We had no idea of this. Also, once we crested and got over the pass an isolated storm developed and within 30-45 minutes it was snowing and visibility had dropped to a couple hundred feet. The wind had taken a lot out of us getting over the pass, so we hastily descended down toward Diamond Mesa to hunker out the storm. Later that evening the storm cleared and we could see stars before turning in for the night. Seeing the stars kept our spirits up to continue on our adventure.
Day 3 – We awoke to a beautiful morning. The winds had subsided and the sky was clear. New snow from the previous night’s storm was insignificant and there was no indication that more storms would continue, so moved on. We descended down toward Milestone creek, filled up our water bottles along the way (again saving fuel) and moved toward Milestone pass. After 2pm the skies started to turn grey and the winds picked up again. By the time we got to the base of Milestone it was engulfed in clouds and it was starting to snow again. We made the safe decision to wait until morning to try for the pass and not to push our luck. We dug in our Megamids (floorless tee-pee like tents), melted snow for water and ate some delicious freeze-dried meals! Again before bed, the skies had cleared and we could see stars. The weather trends were starting to give us a feel of summer, where it storms in the afternoon and clears by night.
Day 4 – Amazingly enough, we awoke to yet another beautiful cold morning. New snow again was insignificant and we made the decision to continue. Our plan was to get up early, not melt snow and move quickly since we were about a half day behind our intended schedule. Being acclimated and now feeling like we had a handle on the weather pattern we headed out for a big move to get back on schedule. As we headed toward the pass, I can remember looking back at Mt. Whitney and seeing a Lenticular cloud form over the top. Within the hour, the winds had resorted back to gust that would barely allow us to move. I’ve been in lots of windy, harsh conditions, where ropes stand on end and you have to lean on your axes to stand, but this was one of the harshest. We found ourselves resting during gust and trying to move when they subsided. The pass was firm and required crampons. The sky was dark and a pass that should have taken an hour or two tops, took four and half due to the conditions. I was the first up the pass and waited for the others, during which I was freezing cold! Due to the nasty weather we didn’t stop to eat a formal lunch and our water bottles had frozen several hours earlier. The notch of a pass was gusting similar speeds as Sheppard’s pass several days earlier and we found ourselves in whiteout conditions with snow starting to fall. Putting skis on with the wind, snow, and cold was almost impossible. We had to stay close together due to the whiteout and for the first time in my life I experienced vertigo. At times I thought I was moving forward, but I was still and at other times I thought I was stopped, but I was moving backwards. It made me nauseous and I felt like I was going to throw-up. A ski decent that should have taken 20 minutes lasted hours as we moved cautiously not knowing what was in front of us. Without eating or drinking much, weather taking its toll, and not covering much ground our spirits sunk and we desperately found a place to wait out the storm below Colby pass. We were all in horrible condition from being dehydrated, hungry and weathered. We quickly melted snow and started the process of re-hydrating ourselves. We set up our tents and hunkered yet another storm. The difference this time was the snow was coming down heavier and was actually accumulating. By that evening a foot or so had accumulated. We started to come to the realization that we were not going to make it out on time. We started brainstorming on bail out routes and options. We decided to start rationing our food and fuel not knowing how long the storm would last. The storm didn’t clear that night and we didn’t sleep. Throughout the night we had to dig out the tents and everything was covered with spindrift.
Day 5 – I would love to say we awoke that morning, but we never slept. The winds felt like they were going to rip our tents out of the snow and the accumulation of new snow was depressing. There was no sign of let up. All day we worried about what our wives were going to feel over the next 24 to 48 hours. We questioned whether a rescue would have to take place and if our food and fuel would be enough to get us out. Fuel of course is the most important since it was our only means of turning snow into water. We were depressed all day long as snow just kept falling. By the end of the day the storm finally let up and about 4 feet of new snow had fell in that 36 hour period. The evening was amazing! Spirits rose and we formulated plans to be self sufficient and get ourselves back to our families. At this point we realized that there was no way we were going to be out on time or even close. We made a commitment to make the safe moves come out alive instead of expediently and not to push it. Our big concerns were moving during the time when avalanches conditions are at their highest. That evening we ate our rationed food, and were positive about our plans. The plan was to move the next day closer to our pass, dig a bit and test the avalanche conditions. If they were not positive, we would wait until they things were stabilized enough to continue. If things didn’t get better, we would drop elevation to try and get running water and try a different aspect to get back on route. Worst case scenario if we ran out of fuel we would drop even more elevation and build a fire to melt water.
Day 6 – The most amazing morning ever! The Sierra’s were covered with a blanket of powder! We broke camp and moved toward a no name pass. There were point release avalanches everywhere and several soft slides that reached from top to bottom of ridges. We dug a pit on an aspect similar to what we were needing to cross to stay on route and it had a Q1 shear at about 90 cm down at about 15 on the compression test. Visually the snow was unstable everywhere. We decided it would be safer not to move anymore further in fear of getting swept away in an avalanche. We made a new camp. The skies were clear, the winds low, and the radiant heat was hot. We laid everything out to dry and spent a big part of the day worrying about our families. We kept saying, “If only they knew we were fine and just being precautious and trying to make the safe calls”. That afternoon, feeling guilty about it, but knowing there was nothing better to do, we ripped (skied) some low angled trees. The turns were incredible! The sky stayed clear and for the first time on the trip we didn’t set up the tents, just slept under the stars.
Day 7 – We got up super early, and went back to where we dug the pit, conditions seemed better, but we didn’t want to push our luck, so we dropped elevation an went down to the Kaweah Kern river and moved up a wide open valley in search for a alternate route to get up and over Triple divide pass. We had rationed two days worth of food and fuel and were moving at a pretty good pace. We figured we probably could be out in the next 48 hours, weather permitting of course. It was about 11am when I pulled out the GPS to re-evaluate where we were at and going when we heard the thumping of a chopper. They flew over and I gave them the tapping of the head signaling we were okay. They circled for a while then left. We thought, “Awesome our wives will know we are okay now, and we have the food and fuel to make it, things are going to be fine”. A few minutes later they flew back toward us and landed. One of the NPS crew got out and headed toward us and took off their helmet. It was someone we knew (not going to say names in case this is posted online), an old customer from Outfitters, fellow skier, and friend of friends! Then the next crew member came out and it was a neighbor of a fellow skier and a guy one of us had been at a party with just two weeks earlier! It was all so surreal. They said we had to come back with them. Only two of us could go at a time, so they shuttled us to Ash Mountain station. The trip took less than 13 minutes to make it back.
Debrief:
After the chopper had dropped all of us off we had to debrief the NPS rangers on what happened. We went through the story and at the end they commented that we made all the right calls for a safe and healthy return. It took them just 27 minutes to find us and less than an hour to evacuate all of us. They picked our brains on what we could share with them to help future groups doing the route and then shuttled us up to our car. All the NPS people were amazing!
The trip ended with a surprise from a friend, who left beverages, Tapito, and Fritos at the car for us and lots of hugs and warm welcomes from family as we returned!
Someone asked me if I would do it again. The answer is yes, and I will, but I certainly will learn from this experience to make the next trip less stressful on our families and friends. Ultimately, the delayed return was due to weather. The storms on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were not forecasted when we left. Our decision making in difficult situations was safe and the NPS rangers conceded this. Next time we will be more conservative on our distances covered and allow for more of a window between storms.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Apr 12, 2010 - 04:30pm PT
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They said we had to come back with them.
Huh?
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, Ca.
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Apr 12, 2010 - 04:44pm PT
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Thanks for posting that, Micro.
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tom woods
Gym climber
Bishop, CA
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Apr 12, 2010 - 04:45pm PT
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A good tale, thanks for posting
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Footloose
Trad climber
Lake Tahoe
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Apr 12, 2010 - 04:46pm PT
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I wonder, could somebody post up a topo
showing their trek so I can link it in my
mind to the TR.
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Barbarian
Trad climber
The great white north, eh?
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Apr 12, 2010 - 05:12pm PT
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This is the kind of debrief report I love to read. Well prepared participants, good-decision making and thought process. Happy wives and children.
Congrats on a full-value adventure and the safe return. Sorry they made you take the chopper ride though...its always nice to finish a great adventure under your own power!
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cleo
Social climber
Berkeley, CA
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Apr 12, 2010 - 05:25pm PT
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Thanks for the report! Good decisions, and useful! (at least to me, since I'm hoping to do that trip in a couple weeks...)
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micronut
Trad climber
fresno, ca
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Topic Author's Reply - Apr 12, 2010 - 05:43pm PT
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Good Luck Cleo....be safe out there. These guys were animals and still got spanked. Do your homework. Dig your pits, give yourself time and formulate an alternative plan if things get sketch. Have a blast!
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Scared Silly
Trad climber
UT
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Apr 12, 2010 - 06:12pm PT
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Wow, their trip in many ways sounded like what I posted up. Storm comes in, screws up your plans, doing okay, wish could left folks know your okay just a little slower planned.
As for why the NPS said they needed to come out with them - simple CYA.
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Doug Robinson
Trad climber
Santa Cruz
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Apr 13, 2010 - 10:52am PT
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Fl, Here's a topo. For orientation, the left red circle is Giant Forest. The right one is Mt. Whitney. The John Muir Trail is red dashes that cut north through the "0" in "2008."
Right above the "O" in "Route" is where they were picked up.
The jag west there is the steep face they decided was too risky to climb.
A really good decision.
It's only a few hundred feet, but way steep. I'll estimate 35-40 degrees.
A shallow gully, it's really more of a broad face. 1/4 mile wide, maybe less.
If it slid on you with that much new snow, it would be massive. The runout would carry you way below where you started up it.
So massive your avy beacon would likely only work for a body recovery.
It's significant that the NPS guys in the chopper knew exactly where to look. The High Route is such a natural line, it has few variations.
I would have accepted a ride out on that chopper too!
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corniss chopper
Mountain climber
san jose, ca
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Apr 13, 2010 - 03:36pm PT
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Looked that area over in the summer and descended the boulder
filled slot (chimney?) Wasn't going to reverse it.
Getting out of the Kern-Kaweah creek area (going west) by an alternate path to rejoin
the High Route would require a miracle in bad snow conditions, else you'd
stay on the H.R. in the first place. Glad you guys are safe. There's always
next month to try again.
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Footloose
Trad climber
Lake Tahoe
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Apr 14, 2010 - 02:40pm PT
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Thanks for the image, DR. So I take it the Wolverton
parking lot is in the Giant Forest. I'm still trying to
figure out if the "High Sierra Route" is a distinct
route or if there is a lot of variation to it. Were I to
try it, what are the essential touchstones to hit. If
I knew, I could google them in google map. To be clear,
is the yellow line in Chopper's post the High Sierra
Route?
If it's a winter trek on skis, is the aim to hit a bunch
of peaks, to cut through the cols and creek areas, all the
above? Or what? I mean, besides having fun of course.
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Doug Robinson
Trad climber
Santa Cruz
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Apr 14, 2010 - 05:25pm PT
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It's a pretty distinct route. The passes and cols are always the same, but with variations possible in between. You're on skis, after all. For instance, the right side of the Google image is Milestone Bowl, one of the epic runs. Depending on snow conditions you might vary half a mile either side of the yellow line.
One of the coolest things up there last spring was how much "extra-curricular" terrain was getting skied. Folks were laying down killer tracks on faces and in gullies that were a mile or two detour off the route. It was inspiring.
You're in luck, Fl, cuz the High Route is not a winter ski tour but at its finest in late spring. In a mid-phat year like this one, first two weeks of May is optimum. Take a Hawaiian shirt and lots of sunscreen. More corn than Iowa.
Last spring in 10 days out there we mostly bivied on dry slabs and never set up the tent. Of course other years I've had two feet of fresh fall in May, with temps down to zero. You could even get into a true epic like these poor guys did.
You never know. That's why they call it mountaineering...
I'm cooking up a Trip Report on last May, to share pulling off the biggest new variation off of the High Route yet.
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corniss chopper
Mountain climber
san jose, ca
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Apr 14, 2010 - 05:51pm PT
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Footloose
Lots of reasons for doing the Sierra High Route. None sane.
And its the only route. If you leave it for alternate routes you may get lucky ( or not).
Some prefer going eastward rather than westward so those horrible Sierra Wave winds help push you faster rather than hinder and freeze yer nose which
is why most choose the most painful direction.
Ask anyone if going down Shepherds Pass isn't easier than up it?
http://angeles.sierraclub.org/skimt/trips/hirte91/hirte91.htm
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cleo
Social climber
Berkeley, CA
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Apr 14, 2010 - 06:07pm PT
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Hey Unfrozen CAVEMAN...
West to East...
Interested in swapping cars with us? We're going east to west at the same time
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Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer
Trad climber
Bay Area
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Apr 14, 2010 - 06:11pm PT
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Cleo - I would defintiely offer, but I am going with ASI again and there will be a group going East to West so we have the car link-up already (ASI handles it).
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cleo
Social climber
Berkeley, CA
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Apr 14, 2010 - 06:12pm PT
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Ah brilliant!!! Well, see you out there, perhaps, and have fun!
-V
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HighTraverse
Trad climber
Bay Area
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Apr 14, 2010 - 07:41pm PT
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Excellent TR
Those guys really kept it together. I am impressed that they decided early to ration food/fuel. Good decision.
And to not try to ski the avalanche slopes.
They were lucky the storm was a short one.
I've been up at Shepherd Pass in an unforecast winter storm and it's fierce. The TR description of conditions was all to familiar to me.
After waiting out two days of heavy wind and snow we got avalanched above Pothole Meadow, near the Junction Pass trail junction. Escaped back down the canyon. Skied all the way to the top of the last switchbacks above Symmes Creek. Yes, after a BIG storm you can ski back down. But then we had to walk all the way to Independence. 12 miles at night in the rain carrying skis as I recall.
A reminder that mountain weather forecasts don't come from God. Why would She deprive us of the adventure?
I don't think there are any easy ways to escape the basin at the head of the Kern in winter. If you get stuck in there I think the safest option is to stay put until you can travel safely while staying high.
BITD some friends of mine tried to escape down the Kern on skis. They got stuck and had to be lifted out.
Maybe Doug has an idea of escape options that would be useful to get out in public.
Fred Glover
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Dr.Sprock
Boulder climber
Sprocketville
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Apr 14, 2010 - 09:53pm PT
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see any mountain lions?
those things scare the sh#t out of me.
imagine a house cat times 10.
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Doug Robinson
Trad climber
Santa Cruz
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Apr 15, 2010 - 02:31am PT
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Hi Fred,
The Upper Kern is a pretty hard place to escape from, that's for sure.
Down the Kern is almost unthinkably far. Plus you'd run out of snow and end up with a sad slog like the one you had out to Independence in the rain. For days. Yuck!
South along the PCT would work, going out over Cottonwood, but you'd get mighty hungry. The snow surveyors come in that way when they end up on the Tyndall Plateau, but for them it's an eleven day trip.
When Shepherd Pass is icy, I go up-down the rock rib along its south edge. Way harder when it's all powdered up, but more avy-proof.
Going west --> east, the SuperBowl is the secret. Drift along the crest toward Mt. Williamson a mile or more, and drop in. A bit less steep than the Pass (though the same aspect for leeward snow buildup, so similar avy danger). It drops 5000 feet. Meets the trail eventually, not far above where you climb back out to the Symmes Creek Ridge.
But my personal preference is to avoid Shepherd-Symmes Creeks altogether. If I NEVER go up or down that trail again it'll be fine with me. Seems like there is never anything but steep rotten snow on that headwall into Symmes Creek. Never good skiing.
I like to cut north over Junction Pass and go out Kearsarge. It adds two days to the trip, but it's all good skiing. Sometimes great skiing. That would not have worked as an escape, though, the day you got avalanched near the junction at the base of Shepherd Pass itself.
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The Wedge
Boulder climber
Bishop, CA
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Apr 15, 2010 - 04:18am PT
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Then there is also the Keasarge, deerhorn, erikson, milestone stone.....
Getting over Colby is steeep. Then easy to triple divide. Right in the middle of the traverse. Tough call for sure.
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Doug Robinson
Trad climber
Santa Cruz
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Apr 15, 2010 - 09:55am PT
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Then there is also the Keasarge, Deerhorn, Eriksson, Milestone.....
Yeah, that is the way better start/finish. Nice high roadhead at Onion Valley. So much finer terrain than the Symmes Creek headwall where the snow always seems deep and rotten.
Or Kearsarge to Junction Pass to cut onto the High Route a thousand feet below Shepherd Pass. Easier terrain overall than Deerhorn to Eriksson. I've been guiding that variation for decades.
It adds two days to the trip, though. Which I like to think of as an advantage. It makes an already world-class ski trip into more of a Grand Tour.
It's the "indirect start" that should become the standard High Route. Considerably less direct, of course, but way better. I think Beck actually goofed a little by pushing the Shepherd Pass trailhead. Obvious as it is. And so far most people have bought into his mistake. Mostly just through cluelessness. I doubt that he really considered, or even knew about, the Onion Valley-Kearsarge Pass option.
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Fuzzywuzzy
climber
suspendedhappynation
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Apr 15, 2010 - 12:37pm PT
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Doug -
Don't spill ALL the beans!!
Iowa - May I have another bowl sir?
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Doug Robinson
Trad climber
Santa Cruz
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Apr 15, 2010 - 12:45pm PT
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Hey TC,
Wasn't there a photo or a poster or something of a guy in a tuck on skis in a cornfield?
Wasn't YOU by any chance?
And as far as spilling the beans: YOU guys were the most coy ever by not giving one bit of beta on the Red Line.
Just a few teases. Like "It was the first time Mt. Russell got used as a pass."
And, well, there was that poster of you, fully launching it in the north couloir of Mt.Humphreys.
Kind of the iconic shot of the whole badass skinny Karhus era, if you ask me.
And your Red Line. Still the ultimate ski enchainment in the Sierra. And still unrepeated.
Such a waste....
Phat skis, plastic boots so good they're practically cheating. And all these modern guys can get it up to do is lap the Sherwins and head to the bar.
Kids these days.
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Fuzzywuzzy
climber
suspendedhappynation
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Apr 17, 2010 - 12:02am PT
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We thought we had to launch. Those tails would drop away immediately - and with the tips pointed towards the sky we had no choice but to leap and land!
I'm ready.
edit: that would be "sky".
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east side underground
Trad climber
Hilton crk,ca
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Apr 17, 2010 - 12:14am PT
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Hey DR wait a minute! " All the modern guys can do is lap the sherwins" I don't think so home -boy! Mendehal,the pinner, the plateau, pete's dream, humphrey's (lots of other lines besides the main ne- couliar) university,palisades, I could go on and on!!!!Cheers! Yes the red-line is bad-ass.
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corniss chopper
Mountain climber
san jose, ca
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Apr 17, 2010 - 12:42am PT
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An obvious solution for unstable slopes is to use an
avalanche control 2 lb hand charge on it. Of course if you're
at the bottom of the slope, as the 3 buddies were, how to get the
charge up the slope to do its work? And not get buried by the
resulting avalanche.
Some modifications and this may be standard gear for the High Route.
No chance REI selling a version of this !!! :O
http://www.5min.com/Video/How-to-make-a-potato-launcher-8412
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Apr 17, 2010 - 12:51am PT
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Sounds like a terrorist device to me. :-)
More to the point, something requiring a lot of training and skill to use safely and effectively. Plus you might have to lug a lot of them around.
The picture looks a lot like a throwing stick, aka atlatl.
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corniss chopper
Mountain climber
san jose, ca
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Apr 21, 2010 - 03:03am PT
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The High Route is getting pounded again. Wish all the storm
skiers up there good luck.
http://www.weather.gov/alerts/ca.html#CAZ097.HNXWSWHNX.050300
SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 12 TO 20
INCHES ARE LIKELY OVERNIGHT.
A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. STRONG WINDS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. THIS WILL
MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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May 11, 2010 - 06:11pm PT
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hey there say, kunlun_shan... thanks for the link... hope you and family are well...
:)
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